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These are the ways to make the te form for each of the 3 types of verbs. If you are new to the "types of verbs" thing, don't worry. Now I know there are many grammarians out there that would argue against what I am about to say, but here's my advice. Don't worry about learning all the confusing rules about how to make this verb do that. Just say it as you feel it should be. Of course you will make many mistakes, but if you keep your ears open and learn from your mistakes you will get a feel for how the verbs work. Take the te form for an example. If you memorize the 3 examples at the top you should be able to guess what other verbs may change to. Or even if you guess wrong, the correct form should be at least familiar to you.

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These are the ways to make the te form for each of the 3 types of verbs. If you are new to the "types of verbs" thing, don't worry.

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Different people have different ways of learning that are best for them. Pick the one you feel is best for you. What follows are some different opinions on the utility of grammar for learning.

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==Become になります==

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There are many grammarians out there that would argue against what I am about to say, but here's my advice. Don't worry about learning all the confusing rules about how to make this verb do that. Just say it as you feel it should be. Of course you will make many mistakes, but if you keep your ears open and learn from your mistakes you will get a feel for how the verbs work. Take the te form for an example. If you memorize the 3 examples at the top you should be able to guess what other verbs may change to. Or even if you guess wrong, the correct form should be at least familiar to you.

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There are many grammar rules and abstractions that hinder learning. But I think that some understanding of why people say things like this or like that actually turns random sounds and forms into something meaningful and logical. If I kind of understand how the language is orderly and not random sounds stacked together, I can memorize and recall it better. Following this logic, the advice should be: Only learn grammar that you find helpful.

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Lastly, an empirical overview of the te form and co-occuring sound changes:

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verbs ending in む/ぬ/ぶ replace by んで

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verbs ending in く/ぐ replace by いて いで

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verbs ending in す replace して

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verbs ending in う/つ replace by って

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godan (五段) verbs ending in る replace by って

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ichidan (一段) verbs ending in る replace by て

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verb する replace by して

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verb 来(く)る replace by 来(き)て

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verb 行(い)く replace by 行(い)って

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==Become になります/に成ります==

To show the state of becoming... something, use ～に なります ni narimasu The ni is placed after what is becoming something. The narimasu means to become. Nouns and -na adjectives use ni narimasu. -i adjectives are different, but for now there are enough useful nouns to look at:

To show the state of becoming... something, use ～に なります ni narimasu The ni is placed after what is becoming something. The narimasu means to become. Nouns and -na adjectives use ni narimasu. -i adjectives are different, but for now there are enough useful nouns to look at:

Making the て form

If you know how to make this form, you can do a lot! Later we will look at other grammar points that are based on the te form. By itself the te form makes a verb a request (or demand)

のむ nomu (to drink) > のんで nonde (drink)

たべる taberu (to eat)> たべて tabete (eat)

する suru (to do) > して shite (do)

These are the ways to make the te form for each of the 3 types of verbs. If you are new to the "types of verbs" thing, don't worry.
Different people have different ways of learning that are best for them. Pick the one you feel is best for you. What follows are some different opinions on the utility of grammar for learning.

There are many grammarians out there that would argue against what I am about to say, but here's my advice. Don't worry about learning all the confusing rules about how to make this verb do that. Just say it as you feel it should be. Of course you will make many mistakes, but if you keep your ears open and learn from your mistakes you will get a feel for how the verbs work. Take the te form for an example. If you memorize the 3 examples at the top you should be able to guess what other verbs may change to. Or even if you guess wrong, the correct form should be at least familiar to you.

There are many grammar rules and abstractions that hinder learning. But I think that some understanding of why people say things like this or like that actually turns random sounds and forms into something meaningful and logical. If I kind of understand how the language is orderly and not random sounds stacked together, I can memorize and recall it better. Following this logic, the advice should be: Only learn grammar that you find helpful.

Lastly, an empirical overview of the te form and co-occuring sound changes:

Become になります/に成ります

To show the state of becoming... something, use ～に なります ni narimasu The ni is placed after what is becoming something. The narimasu means to become. Nouns and -na adjectives use ni narimasu. -i adjectives are different, but for now there are enough useful nouns to look at:

more, ~er もっと

One easy way to say "MORE" or "-er" is to add a もっと motto before the thing you want to emphasis. This is one of the rare times that the word order is the same with English - or at least with the more part! Relish the moment (while you can)

{ motto ~ = more ~ }

もっとピーマンを食べなさい。 motto pi-man o tabenasai. Eat more green peppers.[~nasai is like the te form in that it gives commands, but it is stronger. ]

AND FOR THE:

{ motto ~ = ~er }

もっと早く言って下さい。 motto hayaku itte kudasai. (Next time) please say (it) a little earlier. [Useful when someone tells you NOT to cut the yellow wire of the bomb after you have done that...]

if

There are several different ways of adding the 'if' meaning to a sentence. Here えば, たら and なら are covered.

えば eba

えば Replace the final 'u' of the romaji version with 'eba'. For example the godan verb 'aruku' becomes 'arukeba'. The ichidan verb 'taberu' becomes 'tabereba'.

歩けば十分かかります。arukeba juppun kakarimasu.
If you walk it will take 10 minutes.

たら tara

たら is formed the same way as the past tense of the dictionary verb with ら added. So 'iu' goes to past tense 'itta' to 'ittara'.

手伝うと言ったらそうするでしょう。tetsudau to ittara sou suru deshou.
If he said he'd help then he will.

なら nara

なら goes after the dictionary form of a verb.

手伝う（の）ならさっそくはじめてください。tetsudau (no) nara sassoku hajimete kudasai.
If you're going to help, get started now please.

もし moshi

もし is a word that goes at the start of a sentence and lets you know that an 'if' phrase is coming up. もし can be added to all of the above example sentences.

Special 'if' phrases

Some useful phrases ...

もしよければ・・・
moshi yokereba...
If it is ok with you... [let's do this...]

もしほしかったら、
moshi hoshikattara,
If you want (it), - when offering something to someone